Perlemoen-accused fails to appear
2013-03-08 20:07
Cape Town - A warrant of arrest will be issued for a
perlemoen syndicate accused who failed to appear in the Western Cape High Court
on Friday.
Yu-Chen Chao was to have appeared before Judge Robert Henney
for a pre-trial conference.
Prosecutor Helene Booysen said the investigating officer had
tried contacting him telephonically, but there was no answer.
Henney said he would issue a warrant of arrest later in the
day.
Yu-Chen's bail of R100 000 was also provisionally forfeited
to the State.
He and 18 others are accused of perlemoen smuggling and face
charges including racketeering and fraud.
One of the accused, 50-year-old Yen-Chang Ku, a Chinese
national, is sought by Interpol.
The matter resumes on 22 March.
- SAPA
